"Clang."
In a relatively secluded spot at Tracen Academy, where few Uma Musume passed by, Wada and Tojo Hana could speak freely. Tojo Hana bought two cans of coffee, gave one to Wada, and then asked:
"Alright, let's reintroduce ourselves calmly, Mr. Wada Ryuji."
Tojo Hana's Presence was not as aggressive as it had been initially; she seemed to be in a mood for serious discussion. And this time, even Symboli Rudolf, Air Groove, or Opera O, Tojo Hana had not allowed them to come along. Clearly, the upcoming topics were matters that the two Trainers needed to discuss privately.
"Perhaps my initial perception of you was indeed somewhat subjective, but your confidence just now truly made me feel that you possess some extraordinary qualities."
"Your confidence in Opera O surprised me a little. Now, tell me, how much do you truly understand Opera O?"
"—Before I answer that question, I would like to ask you the same question, Senior."
However, Wada threw the question back at Tojo Hana. When he arrived at this private meeting, and Tojo Hana didn't play any "smash the cup as a signal, three hundred assassins" tricks, he knew that Tojo Hana was a Senior with whom he could negotiate. At that moment, he calmly asked:
"Since Senior is the Trainer of Tracen Academy's strongest Team, and even legendary Uma Musume like Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove were once members of your Team, then, from your perspective, Senior, what is Opera O's true potential?"
As Wada asked this, his eyes sparkled with anticipation and curiosity, an expectation for Tojo Hana, the Trainer of Tracen Academy's strongest Team.
In Wada's original world, Opera O was not so universally admired; in fact, she encountered many setbacks from the very beginning.
Opera O's bloodline was of the Sadler's Wells lineage, and in that era, this bloodline had no famous progeny in Japan. However, by the time this bloodline proved its excellence, it had already claimed many positions as excellent stallions abroad, which was enough to demonstrate Opera O's excellence in terms of bloodline.
However, it was regrettable that this bloodline, which shone brightly abroad, had mediocre results as a stallion in Japan and was not popular. And because it did not show good results in Japan, Opera O was treated as a Racehorse with an ordinary bloodline.
—All of this was known to Wada Ryuji at the time. He was just a rookie Trainer then, following the Horse Girl owner who bought Opera O at a low price, and the training Jockey, Mr. Iwamoto. Together with him, a novice, they formed an inexperienced Team. Even Wada never imagined that this "low-priced Horse Girl" with "ordinary bloodline" could take him from the local circuit to the Central, and even to a level comparable to the "Emperor."
By the time Wada realized all of this, it was too late. He was young then, lacked experience, was conceited, and failed Opera O, such an excellent Racehorse. Therefore, he now wanted to know if, in this world, Tojo Hana, as the Trainer of Tracen's strongest Team, would have a different opinion of Opera O.
Facing Wada's question, Tojo Hana also fell silent for a moment. After a long pause, she took a sip of coffee and said very objectively:
"...Opera O, she has great potential. She won't drag down my Team's performance. After the training I give her, she will have the standard to challenge the GI."
"Some Trainers think Opera O isn't that good, and that an Uma Musume of her potential joining my Team is an overestimation, but I believe Opera O has that potential, the potential to challenge the GI."
"This has nothing to do with bloodline, lineage, or surname. No one says that you can't succeed without an excellent bloodline. Oguri Cap proved this point back then, and Tamamo Cross did too. I believe Opera O can be second to none among any Uma Musume."
Tojo Hana's words were all taken in by Wada, and at this moment, Wada's eyes sparkled with a mixture of regret and relief.
Regret that an existence of Tojo Hana's caliber could not truly see through Opera O's potential, and relief that Opera O in this world finally had someone who could appreciate her—even if it wasn't her full strength.
"Then what if I say, 'surpassing the Emperor' is not my wild talk, but my determination for Opera O? Miss Tojo."
This time, Wada looked directly at Tojo Hana, speaking with his absolute determination and confidence:
"I believe Opera O's potential is far more than just challenging the GI, or considering it a victory just to step onto the GI battlefield. She is an Uma Musume who can dominate an era."
"She has the chance to win the Undefeated Triple Crown, to win a number of GI championships not inferior to the Emperor—she will definitely not just win one GI championship."
"I will train her to be an Uma Musume who surpasses the Emperor, the next Undefeated Triple Crown, even an existence that surpasses the title of Seven Crowns, reaching a higher level."
"I want her to leave her own name in the Central Hall of Fame, to let everyone see her shining honors and achievements."
And not belated achievements, and talents discovered only later. This sentence, Wada kept in his heart, unspoken.
And finally, Wada took a step back, bowed deeply towards the slightly stunned Tojo Hana, and said with immense conviction:
"So, Senior Tojo—please, please let Opera O be my담당 Uma Musume. I swear, I will never return to see you with Opera O until she wins the Seven Crowns."
Seven Crowns was Opera O's historical record in Wada's memory. After Opera O retired and passed the glory of the racetrack to the new generation, her achievements were set at seven GI victories, the same as the "Emperor," Symboli Rudolf. And Wada knew very well that his youthful self at the time had caused Opera O to miss more than one GI victory. And even so, this record lasted for more than ten years before being broken, which was enough to demonstrate Opera O's excellence.
And this time, Wada was no longer the naive self he once was, nor was he the "accessory" to the Japanese Jockey who achieved the "Autumn Triple Crown" with Opera O. He had won the GI, proving his strength, proving that his current genuine skill was worthy of the Central's honor as a Jockey.
—Although, perhaps he was still somewhat unqualified, not up to the standard to teach Opera O, but this was his dream, he wanted to achieve it personally, to make Opera O shine even brighter than before.
Perhaps this made Wada Ryuji seem somewhat selfish, but he truly did not want to give up, did not want to give up Opera O like this.
After all, he was the person in this world who understood Opera O the best.
Facing Wada Ryuji, who was bowing deeply before her, Tojo Hana's expression was also somewhat unpredictable, showing struggle, shock, and surprise, but more than anything, incredulity.
She hadn't expected that Opera O, whom she considered "capable of competing in the GI," would be given such a grand goal by this young man. She also hadn't expected that this newcomer would even say that Opera O could dominate an era.
Could it be that she had truly misjudged? Was Opera O's potential more than just this?
However, Tojo Hana also thought for a long time, and Wada Ryuji maintained his posture for a very long time. Finally, Tojo Hana spoke faintly:
"Mainichi Hai."
"Huh?" Wada slightly raised his head, looking at Tojo Hana with some confusion.
"—Opera O's next race is the Mainichi Hai GIII major race in the latter half of March. If she changes Team affiliation midway, it will affect her race registration. I think neither of us wants to see that situation, do we?"
Tojo Hana took a deep breath, finally extended a finger towards Wada Ryuji, and said word for word:
"In the Mainichi Hai major race in the latter half of March, bring your 담당 Uma Musume and compete against my Opera O."
"I have enough confidence that Opera O will win this race, and what you need to do is to make your 담당 Uma Musume surpass Opera O, win first place in this major race, and prove that your determination and strength are not to deceive me, and will not waste Opera O's talent."
"If you can do that—then, I will immediately have Opera O sign the withdrawal agreement, and then hand over the signed agreement to you, and Opera O will truly become an Uma Musume of your Team."
"How about it, Wada Ryuji, do you have the confidence to compete against me and Opera O?"
And facing Tojo Hana's challenge, and the opportunity to realize his dream laid out before him, Wada Ryuji did not hesitate this time and immediately replied:
"I will."
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